The Greater Kansas City Housing Information Center (GKCHIC) was established in 1970 to preserve affordable housing on an equal opportunity basis and foster economic opportunity for low-income persons and minorities through partnerships within the community. HIC has expanded services with a full range of housing counseling services to all ages, individuals, families, and all ethnic groups. HIC is not restricted to service delivery within certain neighborhoods or to specific populations.

GKCHIC became the first HUD approved housing counseling agency in 1986, providing housing counseling services to Kansas and Missouri. The ultimate goal is to stabilize consumers into permanent housing to prevent homelessness.

GKCHIC meets the National Industry Standard for Homeownership Education and housing counseling. GKCHIC delivers quality housing counseling services to over 1,500 consumers annually to improve their economic and educational opportunities.

Leadership

CEO/Executive DirectorMs. Patricia Gilmore-Wilkins

Board ChairMs Pamela Woodley

Board Chair Company AffiliationKCMO Police Department

History and Background

Year of Incorporation1987

Financial Summary

Revenue Expense Area Graph

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Source: IRS Form 990

Breakdown

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Statements

Mission Statement

The Greater Kansas City Housing Information Center (GKCHIC) was established in 1970 to preserve affordable housing on an equal opportunity basis and foster economic opportunity for low-income persons and minorities through partnerships within the community. HIC has expanded services with a full range of housing counseling services to all ages, individuals, families, and all ethnic groups. HIC is not restricted to service delivery within certain neighborhoods or to specific populations.

GKCHIC became the first HUD approved housing counseling agency in 1986, providing housing counseling services to Kansas and Missouri. The ultimate goal is to stabilize consumers into permanent housing to prevent homelessness.

GKCHIC meets the National Industry Standard for Homeownership Education and housing counseling. GKCHIC delivers quality housing counseling services to over 1,500 consumers annually to improve their economic and educational opportunities.

Background StatementThe Greater Kansas City Housing Information Center (HIC) has provided comprehensive housing counseling services to residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area since It’s founding in 1970. HIC was formed by area housing professionals who recognized the problems that low and moderate- income residents faced in obtaining adequate and affordable housing. Many residents face discrimination in finding a place to live or in obtaining financing to buy a home. Many residents are not aware of available resources or of their rights in dealing with landlords, realtors, lenders, government officials or others. HIC was involved in the process to help establish the Direct Housing Allowance Program in Kansas City, which lead to housing programs, assisting low and moderate income families find housing outside of the inner city areas. In 1975, HIC received federal funds through the city of Kansas City, Missouri, to provide pre-purchase counseling and comprehensive counseling services for homeowners, renters and potential renters. HIC became the first HUD-certified housing counseling agency in the metro area, a designation that it has expanded to cover the five counties in Missouri and two in Kansas. In 1986, services were expanded to serve the homeless population through a collaborative partnership headed by the City of KCMO. A day drop in Center was established to bring mainstream resources including housing and employment counseling to a safe environment for persons living in shelters or on the streets. In that same year HIC began providing services to persons living with AIDS and surviving. Many are being discriminated against in housing choices and need supportive services to help in remaining or obtaining housing. In 1991, resources from Jackson County Housing Resource Commission were obtained to expand services to assist elderly and disabled residents who are facing foreclosure on property taxes. In 1994, GKCHIC expanded operations into Johnson County at the request of the Olathe District Attorney's office. That same year, GKCHIC began providing services to elderly homeowners who were challenged in remaining in their homes. GKCHIC has evolved to a multi faucet agency providing services to homeowners, renters, and homeless families/individuals. GKCHIC has continued to maintain services as a HUD certified housing counseling agency and serves both Kansas and Missouri over 40 years.

Impact Statement

HIC is a charter member of Consumer Service Counseling (CSC), and began to include activities which addresses barriers in credit issues. GKCHIC receives grants through our local government, United Way, and is an affiliate of HomeFreeUSA which is a National Intermediary representing the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. We work closely with many lenders including Wells Fargo providing housing counseling activities including but not limited to: Mortgage Default/Foreclosure issues, Financial Literacy, Fair Housing, Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education, Pre-Rental counseling, Predatory Lending, and Homeless/Displaced families and individuals.

We host various workshops held in the community addressing different housing concerns and bringing leaders together including lenders, churches, insurance companies, rental agents, and private landlords in the process of educating on housing challenges that can prevent healthy choices in housing.

Our goal is to increase consumers knowledge in budget and household management to become more aware of the value of credit which allows greater access to low- and moderate income households to broader housing choices. Thus allowing more consumers to obtain or remain stable in housing which will result in revitalization of neighborhoods. Knowing credit worthiness through education in rights and responsibility when renting, purchasing housing is powerful and can prevent bad debts.

Needs Statement

Financial supporters for ongoing daily operations of our program activities.

Sponsorship support from the corporate community that wish to reach more minorities in an effort to bridge the gap in purchasing a home.

More supporters to raise the awareness of the unique services HIC provides and the importance of homeless prevention through education of consumers.

Upgraded telephone system to meet the increased demand of incoming calls requesting some type of housing resources.

Upgrade software, website & other system support.

Replace antiquated furniture and fixtures.

Service Categories

Housing Support

Alliances & Advocacy

Personal Social Services

Areas of Service

MO - Jackson County

MO - Clay County

MO - Platte County

KS - Wyandotte County

KS - Johnson County

MO - Eastern Jackson Co

MO - Jackson County Urban Core

KS - Wyandotte County Urban Core

Because HIC is not bound by geographic areas we serve all of the metropolitan areas and some rural areas where no HUD counseling agencies are available.

CEO/Executive Director/Board Chair Statement

As a an agency GKCHIC has maintained the focus on permanent housing retention. The challenge is to get many funders to see the value or benefit of our services being needed in our community. We serve more than 2,000 individuals annually which includes every member in the households. Without the housing counseling many families only focus on emergency needs at that moment. It is our job to re educate and empower the participants to take charge of their circumstance to make changes in their lives.

Housing resources and information for homeless prevention for families/individuals with an emphasis on low-to-moderate income and minority residents. Services are provided both one on one and group counseling sessions and outreach workshops in various communities. Participants learn how to access their housing situation when seeking to obtain or maintain permanent housing. They will learn to make more informed decisions, and improve their ability to budget for needed expenses. These techniques will help make wise decisions to remove barriers pertaining to, pre-renters, renters or homeowners. Receiving instruction and advocacy services while learning sound credit management. Housing counseling is provided in a series of steps through instructional and advocacy services tailored to the individual particular housing need. All participants will come away with some knowledge of the fair housing laws that protect consumers.

Short-Term SuccessResearch shows that when participants have someone to advocate on their behalf they are more likely to have a positive outcome. All participants are required to attend a minimum of 3 one on one counseling sessions to review spending habits working toward stability. More than 75% will have a positive outcome that will allow them to become stable in housing through advocacy.

Long-Term SuccessOver 80% women with children seek homeless prevention help are female households and are employed. With early intervention they will more likely become self sufficient and either retain or obtain permanent housing.

Program Success Monitored ByAll demographic and housing activities are tracked through our local Homeless Management Internal System (HMIS.) Reports are collected weekly, quarterly, and annually to measure outcomes and typed of services provided.

Examples of Program SuccessAt the end of 2016, 86% of participants either obtained or maintained permanent housing through advocacy and financial assistance.

DescriptionHIC maintains an extensive directory of available community resources and receives over 60 calls a day providing information and referrals to housing consumers, providers, and advocates. Working with local communities to better serve the consumers in the role of housing advocates and as a HUD certified housing counseling agency. HIC serves many individuals with answers to questions; referrals to appropriate to Local, State and Federal Laws and services.

CategoryHousing, General/Other Housing Support

Population ServedGeneral/Unspecified, Adults,

Short-Term SuccessThe goal is to get as much information in order to verify nature of housing problem. Data is collected over the phone or in person depending on the urgency the housing problem. The goal in most cases is to assigned a counselor who will follow up with a call and schedule an appointment.

Long-Term SuccessWe collect general information from consumers to determine where to refer for other resources in our community as it pertains to housing. They receive immediate information on questions that can be provided over the phone. Intakes are necessary to track the need for housing activities including demographic, and geographic areas. 30% of information referrals are referred to other agencies in the community. the other 70% will become an open case and assigned to a certified counselor.

Program Success Monitored ByProgram success is to track and monitor how many calls are housing activities and how many other calls are being referred to other resources in the community.

Examples of Program SuccessWe receive over 8,000 calls annually who speak with to a person who can provide information on who, what and where the housing resources are located in our community. More than 80% of these calls are direct referrals from other organizations who consider our agency the experts on the rights of renters, homeowners, and home seekers. Through this valuable information callers are able to make wise decisions to help them to overcome and remove barriers housing.

CEO Comments

GKCHIC began as a small organization and was the oldest HUD Certified Housing Counseling agency in the metropolitan area. The agency began with seven full time staff employees but over the past several years a reduction had to be made. This decision was made to to ensure we would be able to maintain services at capacity. There was also, an increase in foreclosures in our community and In order for the agency to maintain as a HUD certified agency all staff had to be trained and be certified in a specific area of housing activities. this measure was endorsed by HUD individually to continue providing quality services. there was an increase in houses being foreclosed on in the Kansas City metropolitan area. With this crisis new Housing Counseling agencies began to compete with each other. During this time there were nine or more agencies who came into the housing counseling arena. All counselors have to maintain certihe past several years many housing counselors were not equipped to handle the volume of request for help and most have since changed their focus. Because homeless prevention has always been a priority HIC and its staff are dedicated to housing counseling. Foreclosure counseling is still a high priority for HIC because KC still has a high percentage of families who are still in danger of losing their homes. Now that the economy is slowly turning around the homeowners are still needing help. We have had to reduce some of our counselors but the demand for our services has continued to increase. Although we have less resources we have continued with the same focus, helping consumers to obtain or maintain their housing.

ExperienceThe Director attended college in Denver, Colorado and moved to Kansas City over 40 years ago and began to working in the Social Work arena at that time. Beginning with Domestic Violence for more than 10 years and came to the agency in 1998. Have more than 20 years experience with regard to the code of ethic and conduct adopted by the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling for our agency. Have received many Certificates required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. She oversees a staff of five full time employees who are certified in housing counseling, three who have been with the agency more than 10 years. Her job is to oversee the overall programs functions, stay in compliant with our funders guidelines to make sure we can continue to keep funding to support us in providing services to families who have little or no resources to help them to become stable in housing.

GKCHIC work well with Local, State and Federal agencies to preserve the community and the citizens living in these communities. Customer can find our agency located on the HUD website as a HUD certified agency. We are also a member organizations of our local United Way and an Affiliate of Home Free USA which is a National Intermediary. Certifications include Nei

CEO CommentsHIC is managed by its Executive Director, who has been with the agency for over 20 years. The Board of Directors are responsible for the guidance and direction of the agency. HIC has been in existence for over 30 years and was started by a group of volunteers who saw that minorities, elderly, disabled and female headed households faced greater challenges in accessing housing on an equal opportunity basis. HIC's focus is to provide supportive services to all people facing housing choices and is not restricted by demographic or geographic area. HIC is the only HUD certified Housing Counseling agency, providing services both in Kansas and Missouri. Homeless prevention is the goal in every case when housing issues are addressed. This is done by helping consumers to either obtain or maintain housing.

GKCHIC programs are overseen by the Executive Director, and has been with the agency for over 20 years. The Board of Directors are responsible for setting the policy and providing guidance and direction to the agency. GKCHIC has been in existence for over 40 years and was started by a group of volunteers who saw that minorities, elderly, disabled and female headed households faced greater challenges in accessing housing on an equal opportunity basis. GKCHIC has maintained that focus by providing supportive services to all people facing housing challenges and is not restricted by demographic or geographic area. GKCHIC is a HUD certified Housing Counseling agency, serving both in Kansas and Missouri. Providing housing resources information and homeless prevention activities is the goal in every case as housing issues are addressed. This is done by helping consumers to either obtain or maintain housing.